The 30 quirky cars and fire engines of the
Variety Trillian Bash will be greeted by a line-up of
celebrities when they gather for the off at Rainbow’s End
on Sunday, March 16 at 10am.

Famous Westie comedian Ewen
Gilmour, actors Mark Wright and Shane Cortese, TV’s Simon
Dallow and children’s entertainer Suzy Cato will be part
of the fun as 70 kids get a free ride through the park,
before Suzy and Shane wave the vehicles off as they head
into back-block New Zealand, entertaining children,
delivering grants and fund raising as they go.

Shane
Cortese is a firm fan. “If you get a chance to see the
Bash in action, get along! These guys who drive the length
and breadth of the country are true champions and legends.
The look on children's faces when these engines and cars
roll into a school and donate money is something that stays
with me for forever, unlike the foam- and water-soaked
clothes!”

Shane is referring to the frequent fire engine
battles that break out, sometimes orchestrated by local
brigades – clearly he’s been caught in the crossfire
before, to further the entertainment value.

Mark Wright
says Variety’s origins are in the entertainment business,
and it’s good to see people the kids recognize join the
Variety Trillian Bash as it travels New Zealand each March.
“But the bulk of the ‘Bashers’ aren’t from the
industry, they’re everything from ordinary mums and dads
to generous corporate groups, that great cross section of
society coming together for the same good cause.”

Mark
will join the Bash from Auckland to Waitomo, rejoining
Thursday 20 at Waihau Bay and staying on until the Tauranga
finish on 22nd,

Simon Dallow will also join in from the
start, leaving from Rotorua on Tuesday. The long-time
supporter says the Variety Bash is an incredible experience.
“An automotive assault on the senses, as quirky and
modified vehicles bring squeals of delight to kids around
the country. Bashers (just as quirky, and in some cases,
even more modified…) come from all over the country, from
all walks of life to raise money that then goes to tangible,
life-altering grants for some of New Zealand’s
most-deserving children.”

“Shaking a bucket to raise a
few dollars, then seeing the overwhelmed tears and grateful
smiles of disadvantaged children and their families, is
unbeatable.”

“Knowing you can make a difference just
makes you want to keep helping our young people reach their
potential.”

Another long-time Basher, Suzy Cato, says
“I've really enjoyed being a part of the Bash adventures
in previous years. It gives adults a chance to enjoy being a
kid again, as they raise funds for disadvantaged children
around NZ.”

“The Bash visits communities that are
tucked away in places which make it challenging to access
some services and entertainment, and the Bash teams get to
create a bit of fun and laughter for the young and young at
heart – having a heap of fun themselves, along the
way.”

“As a Basher I loved the chance to meet my young
friends and their families;

sharing hugs, and laughs and
stories about their favourite shows – very

special
moments I will always treasure.”

Ewen Gilmor has his own
two teams entered the with the stretched Ford GT Limo,
sponsored by GT Radial Tyres, and Turtle II, a 4wd with a
Nissan R34 spoiler atop the roof, and as always he will
remain with the Bash from start to finish.

“It’s an
event I always look forward to, spend months planning for,
and I never want it to end. You go to a school, especially
in the backblocks of beyond, they don’t get a lot of stuff
like us, we’re bigger than the Santa parade in some
places.”

“And then there’s Variety – The
Children’s Charity, and the core reason why we’re there,
to help those kids.”

“Look at the insulin pumps it
supplies. Seven or eight grand is a lot of money for parents
to find, yet with one a diabetic kid can finally go to
school camp without his mum coming along. Finally, it gives
these kids the same freedom as their mates.”

Ewen says,
“Every year a few kids stand out, and underline that us
being there really does make a difference.”

ALSO:

"Unfortunately we are in crisis and this friendly dinosaur faces extinction… Our only hope is to try and raise funds to buy the building and restore it to its glory, either fully funded or with a viable deposit." More>>

Previously undiscovered letters and a story written by a young Katherine Mansfield were recently unearthed in Wellington City Library’s archives by a local author researching a book about the famous writer. More>>